The Reggiane Re 2005 Sagittario was the ultimate refinement of a
series of fighters which started with the Re 2000 Falco I and continued with the
Re 2001 Ariete I and Re 2002 Ariete II. The 2005 was finest fighter ever
produced by Reggiane airplanes, mainly due to the availability of the new engine
Daimler-Benz DB-605 capable of producing 1475 HP. The Reggiane technical staff
leaded by Ing.Alessio and Ing. Longhi designed a superb airframe for this
engine. The completed aircraft had little in common with the other planes of the
Reggiane fighter series, though there was some similarity. The wing structure
and the empennage were retained ,while the fuselage, undercarriage, wing
profiles and armament were completely new. The construction of the first
prototype was started in October 1941 and completed at the end of 1942. After
the first flights the prototype was sent to the Experimental Air Force Centre of
Guidonia, where some modifications were requested and the Re 2005 proved to have
better performance than the others series 5 fighters (Fiat G-55 and Macchi
MC.205), with a top speed of 678 km\h at 2000 m. 750 aircraft were ordered
though only a fraction of that number were actually delivered.

In May of 1943, the first Sagittarios entered service with the Regia
Aeronautica. The first prototype and several of the zero series aircraft were
used operationally by the 362a Squadriglia, 22o Gruppo at
Naples-Capodichino in May 1943, for the defense of Rome and Naples.
The squadron had developed a rather daring method of attacking Allied B-17s
which involved diving head-on with all guns blazing, then flipping the aircraft
over on its back and diving away at the last minute. The Reggiane was a good
dog-figher, and, according to General Minguzzi who flew both Re 2005 and
Spitfire, was even better than the Spit in tight turns and general handling. The
operative life of the Sagittario in the Italian AF was cut short by the
Armistice of September 1943.

However, the Re 2005 was used by the R.S.I. (Italian fascist
Social Republic in the north of italy after Allies invasion) with good result
and by Luftwaffe. Apparently the Luftwaffe used the Sagittario to defend
Bucharest and Berlin; their fate thereafter being unknown. At least one Re 2005
was captured by the U.S., and the fuselage of one Re 2005 survives in the Museo
Aeronautico Caproni di Taledo in Milano. It is currently under restoration.

THE
KIT

Typical of Pavla kits, it is a multimedia presentation with a single sprue of
injected plastic with resin detail parts and vacuformed canopies. The parts are
well molded and generally free from defects. The large parts have some ejector
pin towers that may need removed, but nothing major or difficult. The sprue
attachment points are quite close to the parts so I'd recommend a razor saw to
remove them, otherwise they may break. This is especially true of the very small
pieces on the sprues. The gear doors are molded as one piece and will need cut.
Resin parts are provided for the majority of the interior (oddly, the floor and
back bulkhead aren't resin but injected plastic). The wheel wells, oleo
scissors, tail wheel assembly and exhaust are also resin. The attachment blocks
are rather small so removing the parts shouldn't be a problem. The only parts
that will need to be made from sprue are the guns and pitot tube.

Instructions are very well done, as is typical of Pavla kits. The 12 page
booklet includes 9 very well done instruction steps that offer painting
information as needed. Paints are given as generic titles, FS 595 colors (where
applicable) and Humbrol colors.
The second half of the booklet is devoted to painting and decal instructions.
All aircraft are painted in the same basic camouflage. Verde Oliva Scurio 2 on
the upper surface with Grigio Azzurro Chiaro 1 on the underside (green uppers
and grey lowers).

The first aircraft is of the afore-mentioned 362 Squadriglia based in Littorio
and used to intercept US bombers. It has a white Mediterranean Theater fuselage
band. Next is an ANR aircraft, Red 4, based at Bresso airfield. It has no
other colors besides the basic camo. Finally, a Luftwaffe plane of Luftdienst
Kommando Italien at Maniago in 1944. White 4 not only has the white fuselage
band, but also has yellow wing tips on the upper and lower surfaces. As a note
to builders, the upper surface green overlaps the leading edges of the wings and
tailplanes, a typical trait of Italian camouflage schemes.

CONCLUSIONS

Overall it looks like a very nice kit and one that should built
into an excellent model. The only other Re.2005 that I know in this scale
(beyond some all-resin kits) is the Pegasus version. This one seems a bit more
refined to me.

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